They say that small things can be very beautiful and that is certainly the case with The Vanishing Elephant which has a short run at Buxton Opera House.
At just 1 hour 40 minutes in length including interval the audience member may be forgiven for anticipating a lightweight show. However, nothing could be further from the truth as so much is packed into the performance that the onlooker is mesmerised by the action on stage and the time simply flies by – much as elephants once did according to legend.
The story tells of Opu (Adi Chugh) – an orphan from Calcutta – and Janu an elephant whose freedom is cut short when she is captured by hunters. Janu has been captured with the intention to prepare her for heavy work in the forests and she is put into the hands of the experienced local mahout (Madhav Vasantha). Opu, though, has other ideas as it is love at first sight between animal and boy and, under his care, Janu learns some tricks.
Unfortunately, this idyllic life is about to become disrupted as Carole (Maeve Smith) is on the lookout for wild animals for her father’s circus and Janu – now renamed Jenny – is prepared for an emotional departure from her native land and put on a boat to the USA where she meets her new trainer (Terrance Fleming).
Carole has promised Opu that Jenny will always be treated with love and affection but there is a conflict. The elephant rapidly becomes the main attraction of the circus but maintains a spirit of freedom and her new trainer is not averse to using the hook – a tool that forces Jenny to do what she is not willing to do without coercion.
There is the inevitable collision between the beliefs of the circus owner and her trainer’s often reluctant use of force in his methods but matters are coming to a head as the circus itself is coming under financial pressure.
The future for Jenny seems uncertain but there is an escape route as the renowned illusionist Houdini (James Grimm) has a vision of making an elephant disappear from a stage. Jenny is chosen to be that elephant and, with the magician being world-renowned, his latest proposed feat even makes the Indian newspapers.
The now elderly Opu realises that the elephant chosen to vanish is likely to be his beloved Janu. A trip across the world leads to a tear-jerking scene of re-union that allows elephant and boy to perform their tricks together one last time.
The elephants – there are three of them to show the passage of time – and a circus tiger are obviously not live animals but lovingly created and performed puppets. Under the direction of Puppetry Director Helen Foan and with the excellent work of puppeteers Iris Schmid and Katriona Brown what could have been simply shaped pieces of polystyrene are magically transformed into magnificent beasts.
In a story written by Charles Way following an idea from Artistic Director Paul Bosco McEneaney there are many strands to be pulled. The audience member can take away a variety of thoughts. The endurance of true friendship, the relationship between human and animal, travel and integration into different cultures, animal welfare and the pros and cons of the touring circus are some of the thought-provoking themes.
But the onlooker can also just wallow in a beautiful story magnificently told. The production is a fusion of cultures represented by Choreographer Jayachandran Palazhy and music from Aoife Kavanagh and Pallavi MD – a big shoutout to Philippa O’Hara who has a voice to die for – and all performed on a stage designed by Sabine Dargent and lit by Simon Bond. The illusion designed by Guy Barrett is just the icing on a delectable cake. Paul McEneaney must be terrifically proud of the work of his cast and creative team.
The Elephant will definitely vanish from Buxton in the not too distant future but this is a piece of theatre that deserves to be seen and also deserves to have legs again before too long. Truly entertaining and truly moving, this is family entertainment at its best and I, for one, feel a better person for having been a member of what was a very appreciative audience.
